CASE DESCRIPTION: Hyperkalemia can cause altered cardiac electrical conduction resulting in death. We describe a case of a 23-year old pregnant patient who presented with severe epigastric pain and vomiting. She was severely pre- eclamptic and received initial treatment with intravenous labetalol and decision was taken to deliver. She quickly became hyperkalaemic (serum potassium level 6.4 mmol/L) and labetalol was discontinued and intravenous hydralazine commenced. Post-surgery, her potassium levels were normal but due to rapidly rising blood pressure labetalol was recommenced, resulting in elevated potassium levels. Labetolol was discontinued, hydralazine prescribed, and potassium levels normalised. The adverse reaction was classified as 'probably' due to labetolol using the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction scale. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of labetolol induced hyperkalaemia in pregnancy, with life threatening consequences and hence all health professionals should be alert to this potential effect.
CASE DESCRIPTION: Hyperkalemia can cause altered cardiac electrical conduction resulting in death. We describe a case of a 23-year old pregnant patient who presented with severe epigastric pain and vomiting. She was severely pre- eclamptic and received initial treatment with intravenous labetalol and decision was taken to deliver. She quickly became hyperkalaemic (serum potassium level 6.4 mmol/L) and labetalol was discontinued and intravenous hydralazine commenced. Post-surgery, her potassium levels were normal but due to rapidly rising blood pressure labetalol was recommenced, resulting in elevated potassium levels. Labetolol was discontinued, hydralazine prescribed, and potassium levels normalised. The adverse reaction was classified as 'probably' due to labetolol using the Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction scale. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of labetolol induced hyperkalaemia in pregnancy, with life threatening consequences and hence all health professionals should be alert to this potential effect.
Authors: Paulino Vigil-De Gracia; Martin Lasso; Esteban Ruiz; Juan Carlos Vega-Malek; Flor Tem de Mena; Juan Carlos López Journal: Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol Date: 2006-04-18 Impact factor: 2.435
Authors: Jerry McCauley; Joan Murray; Mark Jordan; Velma Scantlebury; Carlos Vivas; Ron Shapiro Journal: Am J Nephrol Date: 2002 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 3.754